Abel’s laughter had become so hard, tears were rolling down his eyes. “Boy, are you in trouble!”

“Big trouble,” Decker said.

“Real big trouble,” Abel said. “As in: Forget about getting laid.”

Decker frowned. “No. Not that much trouble.”

“That’s what you think,” Abel said. “She was pissed.”

“Yeah,” Decker said. “She was.” His laughter had subsided now. “I think she was upset, but not that upset.”

“That’s ’cause you’re deluding yourself that you’ve still got a chance,” Abel said.

Decker smiled.

They were quiet for a minute, the two of them on the ground looking up at the hot bluebell sky, the sun cooking their faces. Abel let out a small chuckle and said, “Hell, if I lost a night with her, I’d be pretty upset, too.” He faced Decker and said, “She’s a beautiful woman, Doc. Nice inside as well as out. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Decker said. He gave Abel another smile, but this one lacked warmth.

“Scares the shit out of you, don’t it?” Abel said.

“What do you mean?” Decker asked.

“I mean, you must keep asking yourself, ‘What the fuck does she see in me?’”

Decker sighed. “You’re a perceptive sucker, know that?”

“I just know how it is,” Abel said. “It’s scary when they’re that beautiful…that smart. It’s almost…a curse. ’Cause if you lose them, you’re a goner.”

“I try not to think in those terms,” Decker answered.

Decker’s voice held tension; Abel didn’t respond. A minute of silence passed. Abel closed his eyes, let the heat nurture his aching heart. “Just do me one favor, huh, Doc?”

“What’s that?”

“If Rina’s ever interested in a cheap thrill,” Abel said, “send her to me.”

“I send her to you, Abe, she’s gonna get spoiled.”

Abel laughed.

Decker said, “So what gives, PFC Atwater? You going to join the human race, or what?”

“I’ll stick it out as a what.”

They both laughed.

“Keep the money,” Abel said.

“I don’t want the money,” Decker said. “Buy yourself a good lawyer.”

“They switched PDs on me,” Abel said. “The new one I have isn’t too bad, she’s already talking about plea bargaining. Buy something nice for your woman. A bouquet of flowers can go a long way.”

“I don’t think Rina can be bought so easily.”

“You’d be surprised,” Abel said. “Tell you what, Doc, I’ll buy her some flowers and you tell her it’s from the both of us.”

“Settled.” Decker stood up, offered Abel his hand, then pulled him up. “Tell your PD to call me. At home.”

“What gives?” Abel tried to keep the excitement out of his voice, but he could tell by the expression on Decker’s face that he hadn’t.